From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Mar 8: The Skill Development Department has drawn up an ambitious plan to identify and encourage 1,000 women entrepreneurs in each district and totally 30,000 women entrepreneurs in the State next year, Higher Education, Skill Development, IT and BT Minister Dr CN Ashwath Narayan said on Tuesday.

Addressing the International Women’s Day Celebration organised by the Karnataka Primary School Teachers Association in Bengaluru, he said the bank loans up to Rs 1 crore are offered without insisting on any guarantee to women entrepreneurs as part of the plans to empower women. The women have to be actively involved in women’s self-help groups, he said.

In addition, the minister said the State Government is ensuring an e-commerce platform for the products from women enterprises. Arrangement to provide market to products from women’s enterprises are being provided through multi-national companies such as Amazon and Flipkart, for which government has entered Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

Dr Narayan said women can provide services from their homes in medical, education, banking and other sectors in the present digital era by utilising modern technology.

The minister underscored the need for extending all help and support to women, who are the main pillars of society. The government is spending thousands of crores on ensuring drinking water supply to all households on 24x7 basis through Jal Jeevan Mission and ‘Manemanege Gange’ schemes.

Women are efficiently handling diverse roles as mothers, wives, daughters, grandmothers etc at home and also in different sectors. It is natural that they should have 50% role even in economic activities and development, the minister explaining the various women-centric schemes and programmes.

Dr Narayan emphasized that women need to get real reservation benefits in society and noted that the country was gradually moving towards a women-centric society from the male-centric system. Education and Economic freedom have turned out to be real boons, he said.

Noted physician Dr Vijayalakshmi Balekundri, Karnataka Primary School Teachers Association President KS Girish, Chennegowda and others were present. Best teachers were presented with awards.